Spiritual Gift of Faith - The Spiritual Gifts Project

The spiritual gift of Faith is the special ability the Holy Spirit gives to some believers to trust God’s power, promises, and purposes with extraordinary confidence, even in the most difficult or impossible situations. This gift enables a person to act boldly on God’s Word and expect God to move in ways that defy circumstances.

It is listed among the spiritual gifts in:

“To another faith by the same Spirit…”
—1 Corinthians 12:9

This Spirit-inspired faith is unshakeable, regardless of obstacles, setbacks, or delays.

As Wesley puts it, those with this gift show:

“an extraordinary trust in God under the most difficult or dangerous circumstances.” (Wesley, 623)

And Laurin reminds us:

“Facts are not the highest goal of the mind… We need faith that leads to fellowship.” (Laurin, 233)

This gift is not theoretical—it is active, moving, daring faith.

Gift of Faith vs. Saving Faith

Every believer possesses saving faith—the trust that receives Christ and His grace.

But the gift of faith is something different:

“It means the doing and daring of faith…
the ability to expect great things from God and attempt great things for God.”
—Laurin, 207

Key distinctions:

Saving faith → believing in Christ for salvation
Daily faith → trusting God in ordinary life
Spiritual gift of faith → extraordinary confidence in God for extraordinary purposes

People with this gift see faith not as a possession but as a movement, a verb more than a noun.

What the Gift of Faith Does

People with this gift often:

Believe God’s promises with unusual certainty
Pray bold, expectant prayers
Stand firm when others waver
Inspire faith in the Body
Move ministries or teams toward great God-centered goals
See solutions and outcomes others can’t yet imagine
Remain steady in crisis, declaring what God will do
Keep hope alive when circumstances look hopeless

Their faith is contagious—it lifts and strengthens groups who might otherwise falter.

They are not necessarily leaders by role, but they are leaders in atmosphere—their confidence unlocks courage in others.

This gift makes the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and leadership practical by infusing them with expectation and hope.

Biblical Examples of Extraordinary Faith

Abraham – Believed God against all natural evidence (Romans 4)
Joshua and Caleb – Saw God’s power above giants (Numbers 13–14)
Daniel – Trusted God in the lions’ den (Daniel 6)
The centurion – Whose faith astonished Jesus (Matthew 8:10)
The woman with the issue of blood – Pushed through the crowd believing Jesus would heal her (Mark 5)
Paul – Confident in God’s mission despite hardship (Acts 20 / 2 Corinthians 4)

These examples illustrate the “doing and daring” nature of Spirit-given faith.

What This Gift Looks Like in Real Life

People with this gift:

Move forward when others freeze
Believe God will provide when others fear lack
Attempt great things for God
Pray without doubting
Encourage discouraged believers
Hold fast to God’s promises through storms
See God’s ability more than human impossibility

Their faith strengthens and steadies the church.

Historical Perspectives

Martin Luther

Luther believed:

Faith is both a gift of grace and the foundation of salvation
True faith is trust, not mere knowledge
Faith conquers doubt, fear, and despair
Faith fuels bold living for God
The Spirit produces faith through the Word

Luther saw the gift of faith as essential to joyful, victorious Christian living.

John Wesley

Wesley emphasized:

Faith is personal trust, not intellectual agreement
Faith transforms the heart and leads to holiness
Faith is strengthened through Scripture, prayer, sacraments, and Christian community
The gift of faith empowers believers to love boldly, act courageously, and serve wholeheartedly
Faith is available to all believers who seek God sincerely

Wesley saw faith as both a grace and a power.

The Catholic Church

In Catholic theology, faith is both:

One of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and
One of the three theological virtues (faith, hope, love)

Faith enables believers to:

Believe God
Accept the truths of the faith
Trust His promises
Submit to His will
Live in confidence of God’s providence

Faith is nourished by:

Prayer
Scripture
Sacraments
Community
Works of love

Faith is meant to be lived, not merely believed.

Cautions & Misunderstandings

Because the gift of faith is bold and forward-moving, dangers include:

Mistaking presumption for faith (“God must do this because I said so”)
Overconfidence without discernment
Impatience with those who struggle to believe
Moving ahead without confirming God’s will
Feeling discouraged when others don’t share the same conviction

Faith must be paired with:

Wisdom
Discernment
Humility
Patience
Submission to Scripture

People with This Gift Often…

Believe God’s promises and inspire others
Maintain a high level of trust in God’s power and goodness
Act confidently on God’s leading
Demonstrate quiet strength, even in trials
Advance the cause of Christ when others hesitate
Ask boldly and trust deeply
Live out their faith through visible deeds
Encourage the discouraged
See obstacles as opportunities for God’s glory

Bible References

Isaiah 55:8	Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts
Romans 8:26-27	The Holy Spirit helps us to pray
1 Corinthians 12:9	Paul mentions the specific gift of faith
Hebrews 4:1-2, 12-13	Faith allows us to understand the Word
Hebrews 10:32-39	Faith gives you courage and confidence
Hebrews 11	Paul’s discussion on faith
James 1:5-8	Believe and do not doubt
James 2:14-16	Faith without action is dead
James 5:13-18	Faith at work in the body
1 Peter 1:3-9	Those in faith are shielded by God

Gifts Testimony

Name Withheld

In what ways have you used your gift? Please relate examples so that we can better understand the gift and the use.
Witnessing and encouraging others in their faith on the field and since retired, even now as a widow to other widows in my church and where I live, and within my own family, including nieces and nephews, kids and grandkids.

How would you personally describe the gift from your experiences?
I knew I needed a Savior at 8 years old, and after believing and accepting Him through the leading of my Sunday School teacher, I wanted to be baptized to proclaim Jesus as my Lord. At 14, however, I came to know Him as a person, alive now, and able to talk to personally, and He communicated with me through His Word and through others by means of the Holy Spirit within me. As I grew, I began to rely on His leading in His preparation for service, which settled into a teaching credential and experience, and leading to my life mate in His service before he preceded me to heaven three years ago. We shared 58 years of the life of faith together, so I know Our Lord’s faithfulness on a personal level.

The Spiritual Gifts Project is always looking for personal perspective about the spiritual gifts. If you would like to share your experiences and help further all of our understanding about a particular spiritual gift, please visit our feedback page.

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